Literary Terms

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dialogue

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conversation between characters, usually set off by quotation marks- (Ex: "Hi," said Stephen.

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flashback

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a scene within a story that interrupts the plot to return to something that occurred in the past (Ex: In the story "Two Kinds" the author thinks back to her childhood)

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irony

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a twist or contrast between expectation and reality which surprises the reader (Ex: O'Henry uses irony in "the Gift of the Magi")

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allusion

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a reference in literature to a familiar or famous person, place, or event (Ex: of a mythical allusion- He was known for Herculean strength)

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foreshadowing

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a writer's use of hints or clues to indicate events that will happen later in the story, heightening suspense (example- Kipling hints snakes are dangerous in the beginning of "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi").

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mood

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the feeling or atmosphere the writer creates for the reader (example: humor in the story "Seventh Grade" or horror in Edgar Allan Poe's stories)

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theme

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the main message or life lesson that the author expresses to the reader through character, plot, or conflict resolution (Ex: the theme of "A Day's Wait" is courage.

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hypberbole

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exaggeration for effect (Ex: in Soto's Seventh Grade" rivers of sweat poured down Victor's palms)

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point of view

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the vantage point, or perspective, from which a story is told. (Ex: first person means told by a character, third person means the story is told by someone outside the story)

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setting

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the time and place of the action in a story or other piece of literature. (Ex: the setting of "Rikki-Tiki-Tavi" is India)